TWI584985B - Collapsible stroller - Google Patents

Description

Folding stroller

The present invention relates to a stroller for infants and young children, and more particularly to a stroller having a foldable frame that can be folded into a compact size for convenient storage and carrying.

Strollers are a common and well-known way of transporting babies and young children. However, due to its size, strollers usually have a foldable frame that can be folded into a tighter size for easy storage or into the car.

In order to provide a more compact folding configuration for strollers, some foldable strollers have quite complex hub and telescopic frame structures. Although this can further reduce the size after folding, the complex structure of the frame itself increases the cost of production. What's more, the complexity of the frame structure is also relatively unfavorable for the smoothness and reliability of the folding operation. For the parents of the child, the operation of the stroller should be as simple as possible and prompt.

In many countries, standards and specifications are designed for baby carriages. For the frame itself, it is required to meet certain strength and rigidity to avoid dangers such as snap fingers. Due to the strength requirements of the official standard specifications, steel or aluminum alloys have traditionally been used as the framework material. However, from the point of view of material cost and efficient production, the polymer material frame is the more worthwhile material. The polymer has the added advantage of being lightweight, easy to shape (with an ergonomic shape), and easy to color (increase aesthetics and appeal). However, in order to meet the standard specifications of strength and structure, it is often necessary to use a composite material having a foreign composition and being relatively expensive. On the other hand, if a cheaper (and weaker) composite material is used, then the cross-sectional area of the frame itself must be increased, which in turn runs counter to the reduced shrinkage size requirement.

Starting from the above problems, there is a demand for a foldable stroller, which is mainly composed of a polymer material, which can meet the requirements of the official standards of high strength and structural specifications, and at the same time be smooth and simple. Ground and reliable collection of compact folding status.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a foldable stroller comprising:

a handrail frame;

a front wheel frame;

a rear wheel frame;

a pivot structure coupled to the armrest frame, the front wheel frame, and the rear wheel frame such that the armrest frame, the front wheel frame, and the rear wheel frame produce a common angular displacement with each other along spaced and parallel two pivot axes, The hinge structure has a locking member movable between an unlocking position and a locking position, wherein the armrest frame, the front wheel frame and the rear wheel frame are co-rotatable to one when the locking member is in the unlocking position a folding configuration, the arm frame, the front wheel frame and the rear wheel frame are fixed in an unfolded configuration when the locking member is in the locking position;

Wherein the fastener moves in a direction transverse to the two pivot axes.

Preferably, the armrest frame, the front wheel frame and the rear wheel frame are primarily polymers.

The Applicant has found that the locking member is arranged to move in a direction transverse to the two pivot axes such that the locking itself can serve as a significant structural component of the stroller, especially as a primary folding hub. In this way, the stroller is mainly composed of a polymer and can be further strengthened at a critical part of the structure.

The fastener can have a variety of different types, but it is more convenient to produce and integrate into the hinge structure as a type of locking bolt. Traditionally, in foldable strollers, the primary hub mechanism typically uses a locking latch that moves parallel to the pivot axis to lock the two pivotally connected frames or equivalent components. Such a method can accurately prevent the two frames from rotating relative to each other, but it is not easy to transfer the bending moment or the axial load between the two frames. By locating the locking pin in a direction transverse to the pivot axis, the locking bolt of the present invention essentially becomes a load bearing member itself. In particular, the locking bolt of the present invention acts as a load bearing member at the junction of the two frames and can substantially transfer the load therebetween. Due to the transverse to the pivot axis, the locking bolt can also be made larger and stronger in physical dimensions and still fit properly within the cross-section of the frame without any impact on the overall frame size.

Preferably, the locking pin is made of metal and is preferably in the form of a steel product. Preferably, the locking pin has a minimum cross-sectional dimension of 5 mm. Preferably, the locking pin is solid because the hollow tubular pin has a risk of deformation. Preferably, the locking pin has a length of at least 40 mm, and preferably at least 55 mm.

Preferably, the hinge structure has at least two reinforcing support surfaces adjacent to the locking bolts at the locking position, such that the structural load can be transferred between the two reinforcing support surfaces via the locking bolts . In some aspects, the hinge structure has a metal shaft such that at least one of the reinforcing support surfaces is provided by one of the metal shafts.

In another aspect, the reinforced support surface is provided by a movable element that moves into a load bearing position when the locking pin moves to the locking position, when the locking bolt is self-locking When the solid position is retracted, the movable element moves away from the load bearing position.

Preferably, the hinge structure has a hinge material of a polymer material integrally formed with the rear wheel frame of a polymer material, and the arm frame of the polymer material has an integrally formed spur gear structure for the hinge structure. Rotating along one of the pivot axes, the front wheel frame having an integrally formed spur gear configuration of a polymer material rotatably mounted on the other pivot shaft to engage the spur gear configuration of the arm frame . Preferably, the locking pin slides in a sliding slot, the sliding slot is partially defined by the armrest frame, and the other portion is defined by the front wheel frame. Preferably, a portion of the chute is defined in the spur gear configuration of the armrest frame, and another portion is defined in the spur gear configuration of the front wheel frame; when in the locked position, the chute is at the front wheel The sections of the frame and the sections of the chute in the armrest frame are aligned with one another. Preferably, the locking pin is subjected to a biasing force by a spring located in a section of the chute defined in the armrest frame and is located at the locking position.

Preferably, the pivot structure has a latch guiding surface, and the latch guiding surface has a sliding direction combination with the end of the locking latch in the state in which the foldable stroller is folded and opened. The latch guide surface defines movement of the lock pin from the collapsed configuration to the deployed configuration. In a preferred embodiment, the front wheel frame has a sliding surface that receives the end of the locking pin from the pin guiding surface and smoothly guides the locking pin to a portion defining the locking position. The chute is located in a section of the front wheel frame. Preferably, the pin guiding surface and the sliding surface have a common tangent at the pin guiding surface to switch the end of the locking pin to the transition of the sliding surface. In a preferred embodiment, the locking pin is chamfered or rounded.

Preferably, the armrest frame has a handle portion and a release latch, and the release latch connects the biased latch to return the lock latch to the unlocked position. Preferably, the angle of movement of the locking bolt and the longitudinal extension direction of the armrest frame are less than 45 degrees with each other, such that the actuation of the release is manually moved along the movement substantially close to the locking bolt. The displacement of the direction is completed.

In a preferred embodiment, in the folded configuration, the longitudinal extension directions of the armrest frame, the rear wheel frame and the front wheel frame are substantially parallel to each other.

Preferably, the front wheel frame has a front wheel assembly, the rear wheel frame has a rear wheel assembly, and the wheel base of the front wheel assembly is narrower than the rear wheel assembly, so that in the collapsed configuration, The front wheel assembly is nested within the rear wheel assembly.

In a related aspect, the armrest frame, the rear wheel frame, and the front wheel frame are made of fiberglass reinforced nylon. Preferably, the so-called glass fiber reinforced nylon material is a composite having glass fibers in a weight ratio of 25% to 35%.

In some embodiments, the rear wheel frame includes a brake structure for preventing rotation of the rear wheel. The rear wheel frame additionally includes a brake actuator pedal for the foot to actuate the brake actuator, the brake actuator pedal being able to pass only the force of the foot in a latched position and a non-engaged position Moved between. It is sufficient to understand that this can avoid the wear of any upper part of the footwear, or the injury or discomfort of the feet in those wearing open toe footwear.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a foldable stroller in a deployed configuration (with the child seat removed, a seat belt and a woven top cover removed), wherein a front wheel frame 10, a rear wheel frame 20 and a handrail frame 30 are connected. In a pair of hinge structures 40. Figures 14 and 15 show perspective views of a complete stroller including a child seat 80, a fabric-covered retractable top cover 82, and a cup holder 84, respectively, in an unfolded configuration and a collapsed configuration. . A cloth child seat 80 having a seat belt 86 is attached to the armrest frame 30 and the front wheel frame 10. The retractable top cover 82 provides the necessary shielding. The front wheel frame 10 has a front wheel assembly 11 that includes two wheel sets (constituted by 113, 114, respectively) that can be mounted thereon in a vertically axially rotatable manner to provide steering and operability. The rear wheel frame 20 has a rear wheel assembly 21 that includes a larger diameter wheel 211 to provide push comfort and a brake system (described below in Figures 6 and 7). Figure 2 separates the frame and depicts the internal components of the hinge structure 40. It can be understood that the pivot structure on the left side is a mirror image arrangement relationship, so the hinge structure 40 (refer to FIGS. 3 to 5) on the left side in the specification also applies to both left and right.

The rear wheel frame 20 has two integrally formed hinge housings 22. Each of the hub housings 22 has a pair of metal shafts 41, 42 that are separated from each other. As shown in Fig. 4, the front wheel frame 10 is rotatably mounted to one of the hinge shafts 42, and the armrest frame 30 is rotatably mounted to the hinge shaft 41. The armrest frame 30 and the front wheel frame 10 have integrally formed spur gear configurations 121, 311, respectively. The teeth of the spur gear configurations 121, 311 mesh with each other to control the rotation behavior of the armrest frame 30 and the front wheel frame 10 with respect to the rear wheel frame 20.

As shown in FIG. 5, the armrest frame 30 and the front wheel frame 10 are combined with each other to form the chutes 313, 122, and a locking pin 43 is disposed in the chutes 313, 122 in a release position and a lock. Swipe between positions. When the locking bolt 43 is located in the sliding slot 313 defined by the armrest frame 30, the locking bolt 43 is located in the unlocking position; and when the locking bolt 43 is partially located in the sliding slot 122 defined by the front wheel frame 10, a portion is located When the sliding frame 313 is defined by the arm frame 30 (as shown in FIG. 5), the locking pin 43 is located at the locking position, and a spring 44 applies a biasing force to the locking pin 43 to lock the locking pin 43. The latch 43 is pushed into the locked position.

In this locked position, the frames are securely held in an unfolded configuration with each other. However, the locking pin 43 serves not only to prevent relative rotation of the armrest frame 30, the front wheel frame 10, and the rear wheel frame 20 from each other, but also to provide a high-strength structural element to transfer load between the frame and the frame. In order to meet this reinforcement requirement, the metal pin 221 and the metal shaft 42 provide reinforced bearing surfaces such that bending moments or axial loads can be transferred between the frames through the locking pins 43.

As a load supporting member in the frame, the locking bolt 43 is a stainless steel cylinder having a section of 8 mm square, and the length of the cylinder can extend between two shafts (or two reinforced supporting surfaces). It can be understood that although the locking bolt 43 can be of other different materials and has various possible configurations, for practical purposes, the locking bolt 43 is preferably made of metal and has a minimum cross-sectional dimension of 4 mm and a length of at least 40 mm.

Please refer to Figure 3, Figure 4 and Figure 5. The metal pin 221 is adjacent to the metal shaft 41 such that the structural load can be transferred between the front wheel frame 10 and the rear wheel frame 20 and transferred to the metal shaft 42 of the arm frame 30 through the locking bolt 43. The additional strength and rigidity of the locking pin 43 allows the polymer portion of the hinge structure 40 to be made smaller and more compact.

It is important for the user to be able to open and close the stroller smoothly and reliably. In order to achieve such a purpose, the hinge structure 40 has a pin guide surface 312 on the hinge housing 22 that can engage with a sliding surface 12 of the front wheel frame 10. In the collapsed configuration, the compressed spring 44 pushes the locking latch 43 to push its end against the latch guide surface 312. When the stroller is deployed, the end of the locking pin 43 slides along the pin guiding surface 312 in the direction of the spur gear configuration 121 of the front wheel frame 10.

When the end of the locking pin 43 hits the spur gear configuration 121, since the teeth of the spur gear configurations 311, 121 mesh with each other to precisely control the relative rotation between the frames, the sliding surface 12 and the pin guiding surface 312 are aligned with each other. . By finely arranging the locking latch 43, the two curved surfaces, such as the latch guiding surface 312 and the sliding surface 12, switch the end of the locking pin 43 to the transition surface of the sliding surface 12 (or vice versa) at the latch guiding surface 312. Have a common tangent.

Once on the sliding surface 12, the locking latch 43 will continue to move toward the chute 122 of the front wheel 10. When the chutes 313, 122 are aligned with each other, the biasing force of the spring 44 pushes the locking pin 43 toward the locking position, and the rounded end of the locking pin 43 abuts against the metal pin 221. The arcuate opening 123 can accommodate the metal latch 221 as the front wheel frame 10 rotates relative to the pivot housing 22.

To fold the stroller, a lock release 33 is provided on the armrest frame 30 having a pair of manually actuated triggers 32 and connected to the lock pins 43 via cables. The manual trigger 32 is adjacent to the gripping area of the armrest frame 30, allowing the user to withdraw the trigger 32, thereby retracting the locking latch 43 to the unlocked position (see Figure 5). The angle between the longitudinal extension of the armrest frame 30 and the direction of movement of the locking latch 43 is maintained at a small angle, preferably less than 45 degrees. Maintaining a small angle between the two means that the manual force used to withdraw the trigger 32 can be transmitted more directly and efficiently to the locking latch 43.

When the locking latch 43 is in the release position, the stroller and the retractable configuration are collapsible, and in the collapsed configuration, the longitudinal extension of the front wheel frame 10, the rear wheel frame 20, and the armrest frame 30 Essentially parallel to each other.

Please refer to Figures 6, 7, and 8, which show the detailed structure of the brake structure of the rear wheel frame 20. The brake actuator pedal 212 is disposed at the bottom of the rear wheel frame 20 through the adapter shaft 214. Spring 217 and wedge cup holder 218 act on brake actuator pedal 212 to provide an eccentric mechanism that allows brake actuator pedal 212 to be biased to a snap or non-engaged position. In the engaged position, the right locking bolt 215 and the left locking bolt 213 are respectively engaged with the spline configuration 216 of the rear drum to prevent the wheel 211 from rotating.

When the foot pedals the brake actuator pedal 212 until the balance point of the eccentric mechanisms (217 and 218) is exceeded, the left and right locking bolts 213, 215 are biased away from the card with the spline configuration 216 of the rear drum. In the combined state, the wheel 211 is free to rotate. The brake line 24 extends between the brake actuator pedal 212 and the pivot points of the corresponding left and right locking bolts 213, 215 to synchronize the braking behavior of the two wheels 211.

The brake actuator pedal 212 is disposed at a position that can be actuated only by the force of the foot or shoe. This avoids any wear on the upper part of the footwear, or damage or discomfort to the feet of those wearing open toe footwear.

Please refer to Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13, which show the detailed structure of the front wheel assembly 11 of the front wheel frame 10. The front wheel 114 is a caster that is mounted thereon for rotation along a vertical axis 116 to provide steering and operability of the stroller. The vertical axle seat is inserted into the bottom end of the front wheel frame 10 in an interference manner. The vertical axis of the rotatable pivot seat 112 is confined within the bore of the vertical axle block by a circlip cir-clip. The spring-loaded wheel base 113 is pivotally coupled to the rotatable pivot seat 112 via a bearing shaft 117. Suspension spring 115 acts between rotatable hub 112 and spring loaded wheel mount 113 to provide suspension of front wheel 114. It can be known that the spring-loaded suspension structure on the front wheel 114 can improve the ride quality of the child or the child, and cushion the impact of the irregularity of the ground on the foldable frame.

The words "including", "a", "a", "," The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all changes and modifications made to the scope of the present invention should be within the scope of the present invention.

10‧‧‧ Front wheel frame 11‧‧‧ Front wheel assembly 12‧‧Sliding surface 20‧‧‧ Rear wheel frame 21‧‧‧ Rear wheel assembly 22‧‧‧ Hub housing 24‧‧‧煞线30‧‧ ‧Handrail frame 32‧‧‧Toggles 33‧‧‧ Release lock 40‧‧‧ Hub structure 41, 42‧‧‧ Metal shaft 43‧‧‧Lock bolt 44‧‧‧ Spring 80‧‧‧Children's seat 82‧ ‧ ‧ Retractable top cover 84‧‧‧ Cup holder 86‧‧‧Safety belt 112‧‧‧Pivot seat 113‧‧ Wheel seat 114‧‧‧ Front wheel 115‧‧‧ Suspension spring 116‧‧‧Vertical shaft 117 ‧‧‧ Axle 121‧‧‧Spur gear construction 122‧‧‧ Chute 123‧‧‧ Opening 211‧‧ Wheel 212‧‧‧ Brake actuator pedal 213‧‧‧Locking bolt 214‧‧‧Adapter shaft 215‧‧‧ locking bolt 216‧‧‧ splined construction 217‧‧ ‧ spring 218‧‧ ‧ wedge cup holder 221‧‧ ‧ metal bolt 311‧‧ s spur gear construction 312‧‧ ‧ bolt guide surface 313‧‧ Chute

The following accompanying drawings merely describe a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a foldable stroller in which the child seat and the woven top cover are removed for clarity; 2 is a schematic view of the three-dimensional explosion of the foldable stroller of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the enlarged explosion of the top and left part of the left hinge structure; FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the enlarged explosion of the bottom and left part of the left hinge structure Figure 5 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the hinge structure in the unfolded configuration, and the locking pin is located at the locking position; Figure 6 is an exploded view of the bottom angle of the rear wheel frame individually shown; Figure 7 is a diagram of Figure 6 An enlarged view of the area A; Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the top angle of the individually displayed rear wheel frame; Fig. 9 is an enlarged schematic view of the area B of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is an angle of the top of the front wheel frame individually shown Fig. 11 is an enlarged schematic view of a region C of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is an exploded view of the bottom angle of the front wheel frame individually shown; Fig. 13 is a region D of Fig. 12 Figure 14 is a perspective view of the foldable stroller with the child seat, retractable top cover and cup holder in the deployed configuration; and Figure 15 shows the foldable stroller in Figure 14 A three-dimensional diagram of the collapsed configuration.

10‧‧‧front wheel frame

11‧‧‧front wheel assembly

12‧‧‧Sliding surface

20‧‧‧ Rear wheel frame

21‧‧‧ Rear wheel assembly

22‧‧‧Pivot shell

30‧‧‧Handrail frame

32‧‧‧ Trigger

33‧‧‧release lock

41,42‧‧‧Metal shaft

43‧‧‧Locking bolt

44‧‧‧ Spring

112‧‧‧ pivot seat

113‧‧·wheel seat

114‧‧‧front wheel

115‧‧‧hanging spring

121‧‧‧Gear gear construction

122‧‧‧Chute

123‧‧‧ openings

211‧‧‧ round

212‧‧‧ brake actuator pedal

221‧‧‧metal latch

311‧‧‧Gear gear construction

Claims (20)

A foldable stroller comprising: a handrail frame; a front wheel frame; a rear wheel frame; and a hinge structure coupled to the armrest frame, the front wheel frame and the rear wheel frame, the armrest frame, the front wheel frame And the rear wheel frame generates a common angular displacement with each other along the spaced and parallel two pivot axes, the hinge structure having a locking member movable between a release position and a locking position when the lock is located The armrest frame, the front wheel frame and the rear wheel frame are co-rotatable to a collapsed configuration, the armrest frame, the front wheel frame and the rear wheel frame when the lock is in the locked position Fixed in an unfolded configuration; wherein the fastener moves in a direction transverse to the two pivot axes. The foldable stroller of claim 1, wherein the armrest frame, the front wheel frame, and the rear wheel frame are primarily polymers. The foldable stroller of claim 1, wherein the lock is a metal lock pin, and the lock pin is preferably in the form of a steel product. The foldable stroller of claim 2, wherein the locking pin has a minimum cross-sectional dimension of 5 mm. The foldable stroller of claim 4, wherein the locking pin has a length of at least 40 mm, and preferably at least 55 mm. The foldable stroller of claim 5, wherein the hinge structure has at least two reinforcing support faces adjacent to the locking latches in the locked position, such that the structural load bearing can be via the locking pins The two enhanced support surfaces are transferred between. The foldable stroller of claim 6, wherein the hinge structure has a plurality of metal shafts, at least one of which is provided by one of the metal shafts. The foldable stroller of claim 7, wherein the reinforcing receiving surface is provided by a movable member, and when the locking pin is moved to the locking position, the movable member is moved into a load supporting position, The movable element moves away from the load bearing position when the locking bolt is retracted from the locking position. The collapsible stroller of claim 8, wherein the hinge structure has a hinge material of a polymer material, and is integrally formed with the rear wheel frame of a polymer material, and the arm frame of the polymer material is integrally formed. a spur gear configuration for rotating along one of the pivot axes within the pivot structure, the front wheel frame having a one-piece spur gear configuration of polymer material rotatably mounted on the other pivot shaft to The spur gear configuration of the armrest frame engages each other. The foldable stroller of claim 8, wherein the locking pin slides in a chute, a portion of the chute is defined by the arm frame and another portion is defined by the front wheel frame. A collapsible stroller according to claim 10, wherein a portion of the chute is defined within the spur gear configuration of the armrest frame and another portion is defined within the spur gear configuration of the front wheel frame; In the fixed position, the section of the chute in the front wheel frame and the section of the chute in the armrest frame are aligned with each other. The foldable stroller of claim 11, wherein the locking pin is subjected to a biasing force in the locking position, and the unlocking position is located in the armrest frame. The foldable stroller of claim 12, wherein the hinge structure has a latch guiding surface, and the latch guiding surface and the locking latch are in a state in which the foldable stroller is folded and opened The end has a combination of sliding directions, and the latch guiding surface defines the movement of the locking pin in a state in which the locking pin moves from the collapsed configuration to the deployed configuration. The foldable stroller of claim 13, wherein the front wheel frame has a sliding surface, the end of the locking pin is received from the pin guiding surface, and the locking pin is smoothly guided to a partial definition The chute in the locked position is located in the section of the front wheel frame. The foldable stroller of claim 14, wherein the latch guide surface and the sliding surface have a common tangent at the latch guide surface that switches the end of the latch pin to the transition of the sliding surface. A collapsible stroller as claimed in claim 15 wherein the locking latch is chamfered or rounded. The foldable stroller of claim 16, wherein the armrest frame has a handle portion and a release latch, the release latch connecting the biased latch to return the lock latch to the release lock position. The collapsible stroller of claim 17, wherein the direction of movement of the locking pin and the longitudinal extension of the armrest frame are less than 45 degrees with each other such that actuation of the release is artificially The displacement close to the direction of movement of the locking pin is completed. The foldable stroller of claim 18, wherein the armrest frame, the rear wheel frame, and the front wheel frame extend longitudinally substantially parallel to each other in the collapsed configuration. The foldable stroller of claim 19, wherein the front wheel frame has a front wheel assembly, the rear wheel frame having a rear wheel assembly, the wheel base of the front wheel assembly being narrower than the rear wheel assembly, The front wheel assembly is nested within the rear wheel assembly in the collapsed configuration.